i have a 77 trans am and I noticed in the past couple of days that it developed a tick noise from the pass. side valve cover. I took off the valve covers both sides and started up the car and no oil was comming out of the rockers. Could this be the oil pump that went bad. The gauge still reads 40 psi. Any help on this would be nice thanks all  

the best way to check your oil pressure is to remove the distributor (first mark it so you know where the rotor was facing) you can either purchase an oildrive tool or make one using an old screwdriver with no handle. insert it into a drill and stick it into the oil pump shaft inside the engine (disatributor hole) and see if any oil comes up into the rods and tappets. oil pressure means nothing without volume. if no oil comes up then you definately have an oil pump problem. but it could just be a clog and the drill might loosen it and free up the oil. good idea is to have a spare set of valve covers that you can cut the top out of so you dont get oil all over the place. you might want to remove the rockers and rods and look into the rods make sure they arent clogged either soak them in solvent (gas,kerosene or paint thinner etc)mark them so you put them back into the same place and rightside up as well or you will damage the engine. I hope this helps you and good luck!